| Making a career out of being a demo singer can be | | | | Feist", etc. You can go to iTunes and buy a few |
| fun and very rewarding. It can also open the right | | | | karaoke tracks of artists you can mimic. Then record |
| doors for you to make a career doing your own music | | | | your vocals on top. |
| if you are a singer-songwriter or you're in a band. I've | | | | 3) Make sure that you get your reel mixed if you |
| had many people write to me and ask me how to get | | | | decided to record your vocals at home with your own |
| started. | | | | gear and not in a studio. Having a poor sounding reel |
| Getting demo singing jobs are not easy at first, it is not | | | | that isn't mixed right could work against you. |
| like applying for a job from a newspaper. You have to | | | | 4) Put your reel up online. Make a professional looking |
| build it like a business from the ground up. The one | | | | website or if you don't have the budget, you can |
| thing that it really takes to make it is talent. As long as | | | | always make a MySpace page for yourself. If you |
| you have the talent, you can do it. Then the first thing | | | | don't have much of a resume now, don't fake it. Just |
| you really need to do is have a reel that showcases | | | | let your talent and your voice do the convincing for |
| your voice. | | | | you. You will build your experience in time. |
| Here are some basic steps to take to get you started. | | | | 5) Offer to sing for someone for free. I did my first |
| 1) You must record yourself singing in many styles on | | | | session free and the producer I worked for was very |
| your reel. Your reel is just a series of clips of songs. | | | | impressed so he hired me over and over ever since. |
| Note that clips are much better than full-length songs. | | | | Doing a free job can also help you build your reel and |
| Someone who is thinking of hiring you usually won't | | | | resume. |
| have time to listen to a full song. Always edit to the | | | | 6) Keep working! Remember, it is you who is getting |
| best part of the song where it shows off your voice | | | | your work. You must do something everyday, whether |
| or the style you are demonstrating. | | | | that is searching online for jingle houses, producers and |
| 2) When choosing songs for your reels, you need to | | | | writers, or putting ads up for your services. Like all |
| record a few different styles. Many writers and | | | | freelance work, some days may be up and some |
| producers want a demo singer to sound like a certain | | | | may be down, but there is something to do everyday |
| artist. I've had many people call saying things like, "Can | | | | to increase your chances of being heard. |
| you sing this like Lady Gaga?" or "Try it in the style of | | | | |